Addresses some of the components relating to the level of quality expected for fully functional hospitals and the desire for precise operations and maintenance. Reviews 1) objectives for hospitals' HVAC systems and the protective features that may be necessary for achieving these objectives and 2) the testing required to ensure that this protection works as intended. Describes trends in the health care industry placing hospital administrators under increased pressure to maintain a high level of activity under normal conditions and to plan for possible interruptions from unexpected events. Careful planning for contingencies such as malfunctioning HVAC systems, power outages or fires is essential if hospitals are to meet their objectives of providing uninterrupted health care services.

KEYWORDS: Hospitals, management, commissioning, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, planning, testing, managers.